Internship Spotlight - Michelle Hermanski

	From:	Lake Oswego, OR
	Major:	Graphic Design
	Company:	Columbia Sportswear Company
	Location:	Portland, OR

"It's fun to see how a huge company like Columbia operates." That's how Michelle felt after beginning her internship only thirteen miles from her home.

Michelle knew that this "global leader in active outdoor apparel" was headquartered in Portland, but didn't realize all the work that goes into designing clothes. "I worked in the apparel graphics division of sportswear at Columbia, and helped revise t-shirt and fabric-print designs, as well as embellishments and trims for any type of sportswear," she said.

"I've been artistic my whole life," Michelle said. In high school, she enjoyed her art classes most. That interest, of course, led to her study of choice at college: graphic design.

"My dream job is to do graphic design for Nike," she said. Michelle's internship was her first opportunity to use her major in a job, and has helped tremendously in achieving her dream. "I saw what I wanted and what I didn't want in a job," she said. Michelle saw how her education relates to what she'll need in the workforce, and "how people do everyday what I do for fun at school."

Although Michelle started her internship midway through Columbia's production itinerary, she learned about the complete design process - from concepts and ideas, all the way up to the production and distribution of a product.

Together with a team of seasoned employees, Michelle had the chance to sit down and throw ideas around on how to improve the designs and color schemes for the graphics her department had designed. "They were great people. It was a lot of fun to see them work."

Some of the designs Michelle contributed to while she was at Columbia, we won't be able to see until the season's line is officially released. "Columbia doesn't want their ideas taken by other companies before they have a chance to release them on the market," she said.

And if you're wondering when you'll see the final product, don't hold your breath. During her four-month internship, Michelle worked on the final stages of design for Columbia's Fall 2005 line and the beginning stages of their Spring 2006 line. "It's weird, because you'll be working on winter t-shirts in spring and can get really confused," she said.

Despite having no idea how a company like Columbia was run, Michelle knew she would like her internship. "I had never designed a t-shirt or any sort of clothing in my life, so I knew this would be something new and exciting."